Outset Scotland was proud to have supported 'No End to Enderby', a new film installation by Graham Eatough and Stephen Sutcliffe that playfully questions ideas of posterity and artistic reputation. Comprising two parts, the film is an adaptation of the first and last chapters of the Enderby novels by Manchester-born writer Anthony Burgess (1917-1993), following the life of the eponymous fictional poet.
The first film, Inside Mr Enderby, featuring students from Burgess’ alma mater Xaverian College, tells the story of a school trip from the future to visit the poet in his squalid 1960’s bedsit. The second film, The Muse, follows a young literary historian of the future travelling to a parallel universe in order to meet Shakespeare and establish the authenticity of his work.
Marking the centenary of Burgess’ birth, this new commission reimagines the original chapters within the setting of a theatre and television studio. Reflecting their interests in theatricality and presentation of self, this first collaboration between Eatough and Sutcliffe displays the film alongside its sets and props that include a typewriter originally owned by Burgess and on loan from The International Anthony Burgess Foundation.
No End to Enderby premiered at the Whitworth, The University of Manchester, as part of Manchester International Festival, 30th June - 17th September 2017. A second iteration of the work was shown in Glasgow International, 20th April - 7th May 2018, at Film City.
No End to Enderby was presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 2015, through the Annual Award, funded by the Sfumato Foundation. It was commissioned by Manchester International Festival, the Whitworth, The University of Manchester and Glasgow International 2018. With funding from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. Co-produced with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Supported by Outset Scotland and developed in partnership with LUX / Artists’ Moving Image. With thanks to The International Anthony Burgess Foundation.
Graham Eatough (b. 1971, Blackburn) is a theatre maker who also works in visual art and film. He was Artistic Director of Suspect Culture theatre company from 1996 to 2009. His most recent work includes How to Act (2017) for the National Theatre of Scotland; At Twilight (2016) in collaboration with artist Simon Starling for The Common Guild; Lanark: A Life in Three Acts (2015) for Edinburgh International Festival and Citizens Theatre, which won the Herald Angel Award; Nomanslanding (2015) for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Ruhrtrienalle and Glasgow Merchant City Festival; and In Camera with Graham Fagen (2014) at La Friche Panorama gallery in Marseille.
Stephen Sutcliffe (b. 1968, Harrogate) studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee and Glasgow School of Art. Previous exhibitions include Talbot Rice Gallery (2017); Calder Space, Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield (2016); Rob Tufnell, London (2015); Tramway (2013); Stills, Edinburgh (2011); Whitechapel Gallery (Art in the Auditorium), London (2010); Cubitt, London (2009) and Nought to Sixty, ICA, London (2008). In 2012 he was awarded the Margaret Tait Prize and he was shortlisted for the Jarman Award in 2009 and 2014.
